Layer arrangements for surgical staple cartridges

Abstract

A staple cartridge assembly includes, one, a plurality of staples movable between unfired positions and fired positions and, two, a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, wherein the staples are configured to at least partially capture the layer when the staples are moved between the unfired positions and the fired positions. The layer can include a cushioning member at least partially extending around a peripheral portion of the tissue thickness compensator. The layer can include features which create a flexible transition between the tissue supported by the layer and the staples and the unsupported tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a longitudinal slot configured to receive a cutting member of the surgical instrument; 
 a deck extending from a proximal end to a distal end; 
 a plurality of staple cavities; and 
 a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
 
 an implantable layer on said deck, wherein said implantable layer does not extend beyond said distal end of said deck, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture said implantable layer when said staples are moved between an unfired position and a fired position during a tissue cutting stroke of the cutting member, and wherein said implantable layer comprises:
 a first portion configured to be completely severed by the cutting member during the tissue cutting stroke, wherein said first portion comprises a first plurality of perforations defined on an edge thereof; and 
 a second portion positioned and arranged such that said second portion is not completely severed by the cutting member during the tissue cutting stroke, wherein said second portion comprises a second plurality of perforations defined on an edge thereof, and wherein said first plurality of perforations have a different frequency for a given edge length than said second plurality of perforations; 
 
 first attachment means for releasably attaching said first portion of said implantable layer to said cartridge body; and 
 second attachment means for releasably attaching said second portion of said implantable layer to said cartridge body. 
 
     
     
       2. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said staple cartridge assembly comprises:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a longitudinal slot configured to receive a cutting member of the surgical instrument; 
 a deck; 
 a plurality of staple cavities; and 
 a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
 
 an implantable layer positioned over said deck, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture said implantable layer when said staples are moved between an unfired position and a fired position during a tissue cutting stroke of the cutting member, and wherein said implantable layer comprises:
 a distal portion positioned and arranged such that said distal portion is not completely severed by the cutting member during the tissue cutting stroke, wherein said distal portion comprises a first plurality of perforations defined on an edge of said distal portion; and 
 a proximal portion configured to be completely severed by the cutting member during the tissue cutting stroke, wherein said proximal portion comprises a second plurality of perforations defined on an edge of said proximal portion, and wherein said first plurality of perforations are more frequent than said second plurality of perforations; 
 
 first attachment means for releasably attaching said distal portion to said cartridge body; and 
 second attachment means for releasably attaching said proximal portion to said cartridge body.